The Government announced today (24 February 2023) that real-name registration service counters set up at 18 designated post offices (see Annex 1) will extend service hours to 7pm today and 5pm tomorrow (25 February) to assist users, whose pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards are deactivated for failing to complete real-name registration before the statutory deadline, to register for service reactivation.
Users can also reactivate the service within the validity period of the PPS cards concerned via an electronic registration platform by following the instructions at the hyperlink of the final SMS notification reminder sent by their respective telecommunications service providers just before the registration deadline under the name "SIMREG" (see Annex 2), or by completing the relevant procedures at the retail outlets of their respective telecommunications service providers. The telecommunications service providers undertake to reactivate the service of the PPS cards concerned within a short period of time upon users' completion of registration.
The dedicated contingency co-ordinating task force formed by the Government and telecommunications service providers will continue to closely monitor the situation and implement prompt and effective measures where necessary. The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) will deploy staff to the 18 designated post offices to provide assistance. Telecommunications service providers have strengthened customer support services, including extending service hours of their retail outlets and customer service hotlines to handle the possible upsurge of enquiries and assistance requests.
According to the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation, all SIM cards issued locally (including PPS cards and SIM service plans) must have their real-name registration completed before activation or continuation of service. The Government has provided a transitional period of around one year from 1 March 2022, to 23 February 2023, to allow sufficient time for users who wished to continue using their existing PPS cards to complete registration with their respective telecommunications service providers.
For more information regarding the real-name registration programme, please visit the thematic webpage (www.ofca.gov.hk/simreg) or call OFCA's hotline (2961 6699).
24 February 2023